Friends, family members and coworkers are mourning the deaths of two hotel employees, who were shot dead in Marion County.
The shooting happened Tuesday night at the Vacation Host Inn on South Pine Avenue in Ocala.
Investigators said there was some sort of disturbance between a group of people at the hotel.
Rickisha Hawkins, who works at the hotel's front desk, said there were problems with 37-year-old Kelvin Coleman, whom the Marion County Sheriff's Office said has a violent history.
Hawkins said they called 911 earlier in the day because Coleman threatened them, but deputies did not arrest Coleman.
In a statement, Capt. James Pogue with the sheriff's office said, "Three seasoned officers responded to the initial disturbance and there was no probably cause to make an arrest."
Later on, deputies said Coleman went to the second floor balcony of the hotel where he ran into two employees and shot both of them.
“He shot the guy four times," said John Smith, an eyewitness. "Then, the lady came up. He shot her twice in the chest. And, after he ran out of bullets, he started beating him with the gun.”
Investigators identified the victims as 42-year-old Lester Carter, who worked at the hotel for almost a year, and 54-year-old Glendora Johnson. Investigators said she had worked at the hotel since 2004.
Coworker Alberta Putt described Johnson as a sister.
“She was always concerned about people’s feelings, helpful," Putt said. "She was my rock.”
Deputies said the victims had nothing to do with the previous disturbance.
Witnesses said there were kids around during the shooting. However, no one else was hurt.
After the shooting, Coleman fled but was later caught and arrested in Silver Springs Shores.
A Marion County judge denied Coleman bond during a court appearance Wednesday morning. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degreee murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.